N.Y. Giants, Commanders prep for major Dec. games

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. >> The Washington Commanders and the New York Giants have been mirroring each other for years.

Neither of the NFC East bottom-feeders has had a winning season since 2016, although the Commanders — known at the time as the Washington Football Team — won the division in the 2020 pandemic season with a 7-9 record. The Giants (6-10) were second.

Over the years, both teams have had high draft picks and left their fans frustrated more often than not.

The unexpected has happened this season. The Commanders (75) and Giants (7-4) are in the playoff hunt as the season heads into the home stretch. They will play twice in the next three weeks, starting Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

“I always say that the games in December matter most,” said left tackle Andrew Thomas, the Giants’ first-round pick in 2020. “Two division opponents with a winning record, you can’t ask for any better. We’re excited for it. Washington’s going to be prepared, so I’m looking forward to it.”

The Commanders are on a roll, especially since quarterback Taylor Heinicke replaced an injured Carson Wentz on Oct. 23 against Green Bay. They have won three straight and six of seven.

“When you get to this time of the year and you’re in the playoff hunt, every game’s really exciting,” said Heinicke, who is 5-1 as the starter. “It means something. I’ve been on the other end. I wasn’t playing at the time, but I’ve been in locker rooms where you get to this part of the season, you’re already out of the playoffs and it’s not fun.”

The Giants, who last made the playoffs in 2016, and the Commanders both control their postseason destinies. They seemingly are playing for wild-card spots along with NFC East rival Dallas (8-3). Philadelphia (10-1) leads the division.

No division has had all four teams make the playoffs.

RUN DANNY RUN

The Giants’ running game has bogged down in recent weeks, being held under 90 yards in each of New York’s three losses during its past four games.

While Saquon Barkley (992 yards) is closing in on his first 1,000-yard rushing season since 2019, the key might be quarterback Daniel Jones. The fourthyear player has cut back on his rushing the past month and it has hurt the running game. Expect him to test the wheels more.

POCKET HEINICKE

After running for 20 times